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Tag: FairPrice

  • FairPrice Freezes Prices on 100 Essential Items to Mitigate Cost-of-Living Impact Amid Middle East Conflict

    FairPrice Freezes Prices on 100 Essential Items to Mitigate Cost-of-Living Impact Amid Middle East Conflict

    In an effort to alleviate the burden of rising living costs due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, FairPrice Group, a leading supermarket operator, has announced a price freeze on 100 of its most frequently purchased daily necessities. This freeze, set to begin on Thursday and lasting until May 31, will apply to various household items, including rice, cooking oil, eggs, fresh and frozen pork and chicken, milk, and detergent.

    Price Freeze: A Commitment to Accessibility

    FairPrice Group’s decision to implement a price freeze is reflective of their broader commitment to maintain the affordability of everyday necessities for all individuals, particularly during periods of economic and geopolitical instability. The effects of such instability are becoming increasingly prominent in the daily lives of Singaporeans, and FairPrice Group hopes to provide some degree of relief through this initiative.

    Special considerations have been made for customers from vulnerable groups and citizens who qualify for subsidies. These individuals will enjoy double the usual discounts, increasing from 3% to 6%, throughout the duration of the price freeze.

    Reflecting Founding Principles

    According to FairPrice Group’s CEO, Vipul Chawla, these actions are consistent with the company’s original mission to preserve the affordability of essential items. This mission was established during the 1970s oil crisis and continues to guide their policies today.

    “Food and groceries account for over 20% of the average household budget, and even more for families with lower incomes,” Chawla explained. In light of this, the group’s initiatives aim to assist Singaporeans in managing the current uncertainties.

    Continuing Discounts on Housebrand Products

    Alongside the price freeze, FairPrice will maintain discounts on its own-brand products as part of its ‘Best Sellers for Less’ campaign. The campaign, which began on March 19 and will run for 12 weeks ending on June 10, offers shoppers savings of up to 36% on selected FairPrice Own Brands products. This includes items such as rice, facial tissues, and frozen processed food.

    Questions & Answers

    What items does the price freeze cover?
    The price freeze covers 100 of the most popular household essentials, including rice, cooking oil, eggs, fresh and frozen pork and chicken, milk, and detergent.

    Who will benefit from increased discounts during the price freeze period?
    Customers from vulnerable groups and citizens eligible for subsidies will enjoy double the usual discounts, from 3% to 6%, during the price freeze period.

    What are some of the FairPrice Own Brands products that will be discounted as part of the ‘Best Sellers for Less’ campaign?
    The discounts apply to a range of FairPrice Own Brands products such as rice, facial tissues, and frozen processed food.

  • FairPrice Group Unveils Innovative Digital Tools to Enhance Your Shopping Experience

    FairPrice Group Unveils Innovative Digital Tools to Enhance Your Shopping Experience

    FairPrice Group (FPG) is stepping into the future of retail with a suite of digital tools aimed at enhancing the shopping experience for travelers in Singapore. This innovative move opens the door for cross-border mobile payment acceptance across more than 500 FPG outlets, which include supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, and bustling food courts.

    Visitors to Singapore can now use their home e-wallets or bank applications from 18 international partners, ensuring that travelers from 12 different countries and regions can shop with ease. This initiative is made possible through a partnership with Ant International, setting the stage for a digital revolution in retail.

    Cheers on Alipay: A Mini App Marvel

    In a notable first, FPG has also unveiled the Cheers Mini App on Alipay, making Cheers the only convenience chain in Singapore with a dedicated mini app. This consumer-friendly app serves as a digital concierge, specifically designed to assist Chinese tourists throughout their visit. With its user-friendly interface, travelers can curate shopping lists before arriving, redeem in-app vouchers upon landing, and receive tailored, location-based product recommendations during their stay.

    This tactical approach is complemented by a curated catalog of over 500 products for pre-departure gift shopping, complete with store mapping to ensure easy pick-up. Selected Cheers outlets located at key tourist hotspots—including Changi Airport, prominent hotel districts, and well-known attractions—are stocked with Singapore-themed souvenirs and travel essentials, appealing to every whimsical traveler’s heart.

    Powering Up with AI Innovations

    Ant International enriches this digital experience with AI-powered tools through Alipay+, enhancing personalized engagement, security in transactions, and smarter product discovery. Peng Yang, CEO of Ant International, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “AI-powered digitization tools of Alipay+ will help partners obtain and engage consumers in richer, imaginative, and safer ways. We look forward to a long and exciting journey with partners like FairPrice Group to unlock more local and regional growth opportunities.”

    This collaboration allows FPG to provide an end-to-end digital shopping experience while drawing on the insights generated from AI-driven tools. Vipul Chawla, group CEO of FPG, articulated the ambition behind the partnership, noting that it enables Cheers to offer discovery, transactions, and rewards all on one platform, thus redefining retail for Chinese tourists and painting a more vibrant shopping canvas.

    The Cheers Mini App on Alipay is now live and ready to greet Chinese tourists eager to explore Singapore’s retail landscape, making their shopping experience not just convenient but also an adventure unto itself.

    Questions & Answers

    What digital tools has FairPrice Group introduced for travelers in Singapore?
    FairPrice Group has launched a suite of digital tools, including cross-border mobile payment acceptance across over 500 outlets and the Cheers Mini App on Alipay, aimed specifically at enhancing the shopping experience for travelers.

    What features does the Cheers Mini App offer to travelers?
    The Cheers Mini App allows visitors to create shopping lists, redeem in-app vouchers upon arrival, and receive tailored product recommendations based on their location during their stay in Singapore.

    How does Ant International contribute to this partnership?
    Ant International provides AI-powered tools through Alipay+ that enhance personalized engagement and secure transactions, enabling FairPrice Group to offer a comprehensive, digitized shopping experience for travelers.

  • FairPrice Unveils Innovative AI Trolleys and Smart Checkouts in Punggol’s ‘Store of Tomorrow’

    FairPrice Unveils Innovative AI Trolleys and Smart Checkouts in Punggol’s ‘Store of Tomorrow’

    Shoppers in Singapore can now navigate grocery aisles with the help of artificial intelligence, courtesy of FairPrice Group’s innovative ‘Store of Tomorrow’ in Punggol. This flagship outlet is not just a grocery store; it’s a glimpse into the future of retail, where smart technology redefines the shopping experience.

    AI Trolleys: Your Personal Shopping Assistant

    Equipped with tablets and eight cameras, the smart trolleys in the store provide real-time navigation assistance, guiding customers directly to items with in-store mapping. Electronic shelf labels light up to emphasize products, ensuring that nothing goes unnoticed. As shoppers roam the aisles, they are presented with location-based offers—like having a personal shopper whispering sweet deals in your ear.

    Seamless Checkout for a Stress-Free Experience

    The checkout process is equally groundbreaking. By utilizing automatic systems, FairPrice eliminates the dread of long queues, allowing customers to simply walk out with their items. This smooth process mirrors the store’s technological ethos—efficiency meets innovation at every corner.

    Vision AI: Keeping Shelves Stocked and Customers Happy

    Inventory woes are a thing of the past. The implementation of Vision AI not only monitors stock levels but also alerts managers about low inventory, triggering timely replenishment. Meanwhile, the “Grocer Genie” dashboard provides staff with real-time updates on various operational factors, ensuring they are always prepared for the ever-changing demands of the market.

    A Commitment to Growth and Affordability

    Since its launch, the store has demonstrated impressive results, with the average shopping basket expanding from S$25 to S$45. To support this transformation, FairPrice has invested in a training program aimed at fostering a “Growth Mindset” among its employees, the average age of whom is 54. “It’s about embracing failure and learning from it. It’s about not being fearful of change,” said Chawla, emphasizing the company’s commitment to adapting amidst evolving retail landscapes.

    Despite these advancements, FairPrice remains true to its roots, anchored by a mission established 50 years ago during Singapore’s oil crisis: making daily essentials accessible and affordable to all. As the retail landscape continues to shift, the ‘Store of Tomorrow’ stands as a testament to how technology can enhance the customer experience while staying attuned to core values.

    Questions & Answers

    What innovations can customers expect at FairPrice’s ‘Store of Tomorrow’?
    Customers will find AI-powered trolleys that offer navigation assistance, smart checkout processes that eliminate queues, and dynamic offers based on their location within the store.

    How has FairPrice managed to boost average basket sizes?
    Since the store’s launch, FairPrice has focused on technology integration and a commitment to staff training, resulting in the average shopping basket increasing from S$25 to S$45.

    What is the significance of FairPrice’s approach to workforce training?
    The “Growth Mindset” program aims to empower employees, particularly those with an average age of 54, to embrace change and learning, aligning their personal growth with the evolving demands of the retail sector.

  • FairPrice Group Teams Up with Google Cloud to Unveil Innovative AI Shopping and Workplace Solutions

    FairPrice Group Teams Up with Google Cloud to Unveil Innovative AI Shopping and Workplace Solutions

    Shoppers in Singapore can look forward to a transformative retail experience thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration between FairPrice Group (FPG) and Google Cloud. This expanded partnership aims to infuse Singapore’s largest retailer with cutting-edge AI-powered shopping and workplace tools, making the shopping process smarter and more efficient while enhancing employee productivity.

    AI Assistants Take Center Stage

    As part of FPG’s innovative Store of Tomorrow initiative, AI assistants, designed using Google Cloud’s Agent Development Kit (ADK), have made their debut at FairPrice Finest in Punggol Digital District. These sophisticated digital aides are set to offer personalized recommendations, streamline product searches, and assist shoppers with meal planning and recipes.

    Smart Carts: Your Personal Shopping Companion

    Armed with smart carts featuring multimodal AI assistants, shoppers can now navigate stores with ease. These high-tech carts allow customers to scan barcodes, uncover exciting promotions, and receive tailored product suggestions. For instance, a simple search for “yam paste” not only reveals ready-to-cook items and ingredients but also confirms in-store availability—a game-changer for lunch prep!

    Breaking Language Barriers

    The initiative doesn’t stop there. FPG is also piloting Vertex AI Search for Commerce, a tool adept at handling non-English and local dialect queries. This makes it significantly easier for customers to locate products, whether they are searching for “low fat cheese,” “荔枝” (lychee), or good old “orh nee” (yam paste). It’s retail becoming truly multilingual!

    Wellness Meets Convenience

    At Unity pharmacy, specialized AI agents provide personalized wellness advice, create meal plans, and generate shopping lists tailored to individual health needs. Meanwhile, wine aficionados can delight in a digital sommelier that recommends beverages based on taste preferences, price points, country of origin, and perfect culinary matches—a delightful approach that could turn you into a connoisseur faster than a cork pops!

    Empowering Employees with AI

    On the operational side, employees will benefit from Google Agentspace, which empowers them to create and utilize AI agents for various tasks ranging from research and ad creation to human resources and customer service. A standout feature of this collaboration is a custom creative agent that can generate ad visuals and copy up to ten times faster than traditional methods, giving staff the edge in a competitive landscape.

    With this partnership, FairPrice Group is stepping boldly into a future where AI enhances both the customer and employee experience, proving that the retail landscape in Asia is not just keeping up with technological advancements—it’s setting the pace.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the primary goal of the collaboration between FairPrice Group and Google Cloud?
    The partnership aims to introduce AI-powered tools to improve shopping efficiency and enhance employee productivity across FairPrice stores.

    How do the smart carts benefit shoppers at FairPrice?
    Shoppers can utilize smart carts with AI assistants to navigate the store, scan barcodes, find promotions, and receive personalized product recommendations based on their searches.

    What unique features does the Vertex AI Search offer?
    Vertex AI Search allows for non-English and local dialect queries, enabling customers to easily find products in their preferred languages, significantly breaking down communication barriers.

  • FairPrice Alerts Shoppers: Beware of $3,100 WhatsApp Scam Targeting Singapore’s Supermarket Fans!

    FairPrice Alerts Shoppers: Beware of $3,100 WhatsApp Scam Targeting Singapore’s Supermarket Fans!

    In a warning to its customers, Singapore’s FairPrice supermarket chain has flagged a fraudulent WhatsApp survey that promises a tempting reward of SGD4,000 (approximately US$3,100).

    In a recent Facebook post, FairPrice clarified that this deceptive questionnaire has no association with the company. Shoppers are urged to ignore the message and avoid clicking on the link or sharing any personal information.

    This scam cleverly attempts to entice potential victims with the lure of cash for completing the questionnaire, but FairPrice has made it clear: legitimate promotions can only be found on the FairPrice Group app or through their official website. “We will never send SMS, WhatsApp, or any other messages asking for your username, password, or financial information,” the company reassured its customers.

    A Snapshot of FairPrice’s Legacy

    With over five decades of service, FairPrice stands as Singapore’s largest supermarket chain, boasting more than 100 locations across the island. The company’s extensive history and trusted reputation make these scams all the more troubling for the consumer community.

    The Bigger Picture: WhatsApp Scams in Singapore

    Scams via WhatsApp have gained alarming traction in Singapore, with incidents of government official impersonation scams reaching 1,504 cases last year. Victims collectively lost an astonishing SGD151.3 million, with most targeted individuals aged between 50 and 64. Scammers primarily use phone calls and WhatsApp to connect with their victims, showcasing a disturbing trend that raises concerns about digital security and consumer awareness.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the nature of the scam targeting FairPrice customers?
    The scam involves a fake WhatsApp survey that promises respondents a reward of SGD4,000, aiming to collect personal information through a deceptive questionnaire.

    How has FairPrice responded to the scam?
    FairPrice has issued a warning on its social media channels, advising customers to disregard the scam and emphasizing that legitimate promotions are only communicated through their official app or website.

    What trend has emerged regarding scams in Singapore?
    WhatsApp scams have become increasingly prevalent in Singapore, with significant incidents reported last year, particularly targeting older demographics through impersonation tactics.

  • Singaporean retailer opens three AI-powered unmanned grocery stores

    Singaporean retailer opens three AI-powered unmanned grocery stores

    Cheers, a sub-brand of Singapore’s largest Convenience store chain FairPrice recently launched an AI-powered cashierless store with Cloudpick. This is not the first unmanned convenience store opened by Cheers. The company piloted its first “unattended” store in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2017, followed by two more at the National University of Singapore.

    Unlike the first three stores, the new unmanned and cashless store is equipped with Cloudpick,the world’s leading AI digital retail technology solution provider, replacing self-checkout counters and creating a completely frictionless shopping experience powered by its patented AI system and computer vision technology.

    Cashierless checkouts have been evolving for years. With the ongoing global pandemic, retailers are seeking new ways to enhance the shopping experience, including reducing in-store human-to-human contact by eliminating the checkout lines.

    Cloudpick has empowered many retail chains in more than 11 countries around the world, and has landed more than 130 AI-powered cashierless stores. Other players providing computer vision checkout solutions such as Aifi, Zippin and Standard Cognition, which announced recently that it has raised $150 million in Series C funding led by Japan Softbank.

    The grab-and-go Cheers store sells a variety of drinks, prepackaged food and snacks. When entering the Cheers store for the first time, the customers can download the Cheers SG app and add their payment method. They can use facial recognition or scan the QR code from App to enter the store. The customers then can just walk in, grab any items they want and simply walk out. The AI system track which products customers pick up and return; virtual baskets are updated accordingly by the algorithms, and customers’ digital accounts are automatically charged after exiting the stores. Consumers can quickly purchase their favored products even during peak hours.

    In addition to ‘fast billing speed’, the store can also enrich the customer’s shopping experience through smart bar screens in the store, this is also the first of its kind in the world. The smart bar screens can be used to effectively communicating with customers, such as displaying product information, suggestions, invoking coupons, and even playing competing advert campaigns if brands are willing to do so. The AI system is accurately identifies the audience standing in front of the screen, and play only the advert that is relevant and most efficient in creating conversion and facilitate customers’ decision-making process.

    On the other hand, Cheers cashier-less convenience store has gotten rid of its high dependence on human resources. The automated cashier-free solution allows store operator to save on labor costs and allow 24/7 store operations, it removes the repetitive and tedious checkout work and provides more in-person services for customers. Meanwhile, the Cloudpick AI system completely digitizing ‘people, product and place’, it makes the operations and management process easier and more effective.

    For instance, no more store inspection is needed for store operators, they will be notified in real-time when a product needs restocking. The real-time inventory check function allows the clerk to replenish products without spending countless times counting each of the items and verify the inventory. In terms of product selection, the business intelligent reports enable operating personnel to accurately grasp the most popular brands and product categories to make the best product selection decision, thus increasing sales based on improving customer satisfaction.

    Mr.Seah Kian Peng, CEO of FairPrice Group mentioned, once the AI system adopted by Cheers autonomous convenience store is proven successful, the system may be rolled out to more sub-branches in the future.

    With Cloudpick’s advanced technology and experience, the company will help FairPrice stores to break through manpower constraints, and through digital transformation, comprehensively enhance the customer shopping experience.

  • FairPrice Finest launches in-store radio network with SPH

    FairPrice Finest launches in-store radio network with SPH

    Singapore supermarket chain FairPrice Finest has launched an in-store radio network in partnership with SPH Radio.

    The new channel, live in all 26 stores, will offer FMCG companies another channel in which to advertise to shoppers in-store, as well as music and content from SPH radio stations.

    The station will reach an estimated 2.5 million shoppers every month.

    “Partnering with SPH Radio will not only help us improve our shopper experience via aural ambiance but also provide a wider range of touchpoints for our retail partners to engage with our shoppers in an integrated manner,” said Kelvin Tan, head of customer & marketing (retail business), at FairPrice Group.

    “As Singaporeans are making more frequent trips for their groceries, this will be a viable platform for our retail partners to reach shoppers in their shopping journey.”

    The new channel marks SPH Radio’s first foray into in-store entertainment programming.

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  • FairPrice launches mobile supermarket in Singapore

    FairPrice launches mobile supermarket in Singapore

    Singapore supermarket chain FairPrice has launched a mobile grocery service dubbed ‘FairPrice on Wheels’, delivering essential groceries closer to customers’ homes.

    With FairPrice on Wheels, customers living far away from supermarkets can now buy products from FairPrice’s vans parked near their home. Essential products include rice, milk, eggs, canned products, vegetables and toiletries. FairPrice has imposed purchase limits on these products as per below:

    “While we encourage everyone to stay home during the circuit breaker period, we also understand that there may be people who do not have the option to have their groceries purchased on their behalf,” said FairPrice Group CEO Seah Kian Peng.

    “Therefore, we aim to bring daily essentials closer to their homes, especially for seniors, so that they do not have to spend too much time away from home.”

    FairPrice on Wheels is available in five locations: Commonwealth Link, Telok Blangah Crescent, Telok Blangah Rise, Kampong Glam Community Club and Jalan Kukoh. More locations will be added soon.

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  • Price Kaki to launched by Customers Association of Singapore

    Price Kaki to launched by Customers Association of Singapore

    The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) has released an app rewarding users for sharing pricing information to allow comparisons while shopping.

    Users of the Price Kaki app, which is expected to launch at the end of this month, can submit photos of any prices they come across while shopping for hawker food or groceries, allowing other users to save costs. Contributors to the pricing information platform are eligible to claim rewards such as film vouchers.

    Price Kaki’s base pricing information will be updated daily by FairPrice, Giant, Sheng Siong and Prime Supermarket.

    Future updates to the app are expected to be broad-ranging and include other businesses such as cafes.

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  • NTUC Fairprice launches revamped online shopping platform and new high-tech order fulfilment system

    NTUC Fairprice launches revamped online shopping platform and new high-tech order fulfilment system

    NTUC FairPrice has relaunched its e-commerce platform, renaming it FairPrice On.

    A revamped mobile app and online portal provide a user-interface the grocery describes as “more robust and intuitive” and an automated storage and retrieval system that increases order fulfilment efficiency by four times.

    NTUC FairPrice CEO Seah Kian Peng, says the company was one of the first supermarkets to launch online shopping more than a decade ago “and today we take another leap forward to enhance our online customer experience with FairPrice On”.

    A new logo and brand identity was also  launched today. “The new identity for FairPrice On was developed to capture the spirit of thoughtfulness, innovation and familiarity through the use of vivid colours, clarity and casual everyday language,” said the grocer.

    Behind the online interface of FairPrice On is a high-tech distribution centre at FairPrice Hub in Joo Koon, and the company’s new online fulfilment system, AutoStore, an automated goods-to-man storage and retrieval system that uses robotics to provide high-density storage, optimise manpower and boost productivity. AutoStore is able to handle up to 3000 orders per day and is four times faster compared to radio frequency-assisted picking, with the ability to fulfil 220 order-lines every per hour. The high-density storage system consists of over 20,000 bins spread over multiple layers, occupying a space over one and a half times the size of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

    Each bin can be configured to hold any quantity of products depending on size and weight, with the ability to hold multiple types of products within the same bin to provide greater flexibility and scalability. Order fulfilment is managed through a computerised system with robots retrieving the items needed and shifting bins around to maximise space. The system is also scalable to accommodate for future growth of FairPrice On.

    “In line with Singapore’s Retail Industry Transformation Map, we continue to innovate and harness technology to boost productivity and customer service while adapting to constant shifts in the e-commerce industry,” says Peng.

    Customer engagement focus

    FairPrice says that apart from operational efficiency, FairPrice On features a revamped online portal and mobile app to provide a more robust and intuitive shopping experience for customers. For example, the online customer journey from searching and selecting products to choosing a delivery slot and making payment has been streamlined to make it faster and easier for shoppers.

    FairPrice On offers more than 13,000 products ranging from groceries and fresh produce to personal care and electronics. Over 400,000 subscribers are registered on FairPrice On. To cater to varied customer needs, FairPrice On also uses data analytics to send targeted personalised promotions based on their profile, interests and consumption habits. Free home delivery is offered with spending of more than $59, or free collection from 71 click-and-collect locations on orders of more than $29. Exchanges or refunds may be made at 138 brick-and-mortar FairPrice stores located island-wide.

  • Shopping patterns in Singapore shift amid slowdown

    Shopping patterns in Singapore shift amid slowdown

    Singapore’s retail sector is going through a rough patch. As the economy slows, shops are being boarded up and retail rents are falling.

    And yet, amid this gloom, consumers continue to spend – though there is a shift in the pattern and quantum of their spending.

    In June, the first month of the Great Singapore Sale, retailer sales were down 3 per cent compared with the same month last year. It is not just tourists who are staying away, but local consumers are also looking more closely at price tags.

    The mood has not been helped by the fact that about 4,800 people were laid off in the second quarter, 48 per cent more than in the same period last year.

    Landlords are feeling the pinch as well. Average monthly gross rents for prime first-storey speciality retail shops dipped 1.2 per cent in the three months to September from the previous quarter, said property consultancy Edmund Tie & Company recently.

    Vacancies in the Orchard planning area rose again in the second quarter to 9.2 per cent, after reaching what was then a five-year high of 8.8 per cent in the first quarter.

    ANZ economist Ng Weiwen pointed out that home prices have fallen for 12 consecutive quarters, while bank lending has shrunk for 11 straight months. This has translated into weaker spending.

    However, the decline has been gentle across the board and there have been some bright spots. Those who find this surprising should look at the unemployment rate. While it rose from 1.9 per cent in March to 2.1 per cent in June, it remains quite low. Said OCBC economist Selena Ling: “When unemployment rate is anything below 3 per cent, it is effectively at full employment.”

    It could be one reason why consumers continue spending on mid-range goods and services, such as travel and at cafes, even as they cut back on luxury items and seek better deals for necessities.

    ANZ’s Mr Ng said: “For the different tiers of consumer spending, the high-end consumer segment will be more sensitive to changes in consumer income, so it’s not surprising.

    “The mid-range segment will still hold up in the near term as wages are still holding up.”

    In fact, more are paying their credit card bills on time. Only 32.25 per cent of card holders did not pay their bills in full for the second quarter, down from 33.91 per cent in the first quarter. Ms Ling said: “People have been turning slightly more cautious with spending.”

    They may spend less on fashion. And malls could take a hit if their offerings are the same as the ones available on Taobao and the like, she added.

    But cheaper options like house brands at supermarket chain FairPrice are seeing stronger demand.

    This is what a slowing economy looks like – in Singapore.

     

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  • Tobacco products to be taken off shop displays from 2017

    Tobacco products to be taken off shop displays from 2017

    From 2017, retailers of tobacco products will not be allowed to display them in their shops, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Wednesday (Dec 9).

    The ministry said it will move to ban stores from displaying such products after amendments to the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act are tabled in Parliament.

    Retailers may choose to use existing storage units, modify them or install new storage units that are permanent, self-closing and opaque. Retailers could choose to use vertical blinds, or even a curtain, among others. They are to comply with the new requirements, whereby tobacco products need to be out of sight from the public at all times.

    Exceptions will be made in the process of restocking the display unit or during a sales transaction, unless the staff carrying out these actions stops to do something else.

    MOH said it is prepared to allow a text-only price list in a standard format, to facilitate transactions and ensure a level playing field while preventing misuse as a form of advertisement.

    It added that it will allow storage units to be in the same colour as the decor or interior walls of the outlet, as long as the colour does not draw specific attention to storage units.

    A brochure, published by the Health Promotion Board in the four national languages, will be distributed to retailers in the coming months, detailing the dos and don’ts of storing and selling tobacco products.

    Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor said on Wednesday that authorities will work with retailers to help them comply with the new legal guidelines.

    “Even as we are implementing this to protect non-smokers – particularly our young – from the promotional effect of point-of-sale displays and to create a better environment for smokers who are trying to quit, we also want to work with tobacco retailers to try and help them reduce the inconveniences caused to businesses,” Dr Khor said.

    2014 STUDY SUPPORTS MOVE TO REMOVE TOBACCO PRODUCTS FROM SHOP DISPLAYS

    In response to media queries, MOH said findings in a 2014 local study conducted among 1,300 smoking and non-smoking respondents aged 18 to 69 supported this move.

    The study found 20 per cent of non-smokers reported that point-of-sale displays of tobacco products aroused curiosity in smoking, while 44 per cent of smokers considered point-of-sale displays of tobacco products attractive.

    Additionally, 46 per cent of smokers aged 18 to 29 bought tobacco products on seeing point-of-sale displays of such products, while 50 per cent of smokers in the same age group were tempted to smoke on seeing point-of-sale displays of tobacco products, MOH said.

    “Hence, not displaying tobacco products can reduce the curiosity to smoke, and reduce spontaneous purchases of such products,” said MOH.

    BANNING POINT-OF-SALE DISPLAYS OVERSEAS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL

    MOH also pointed to research that showed that banning point-of-sale tobacco displays overseas has positive effects.

    Daily smoking rates in Iceland decreased from 28.1 per cent in 1996 to 19.3 per cent in 2006 after a point-of-sale display ban on tobacco products was introduced in 2001, according to a report by Tobacconomics.

    Additionally, research from Australia showed that there was a “significant decline” in reported exposure to tobacco displays when the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Western Australia implemented the ban. A total of 1.1 per cent of smokers noticed tobacco displays in Western Australia, compared to 27.1 per cent before the ban, researchers said.

    RETAILERS QUESTION EFFECTIVENESS OF MOVE

    Retailers Channel NewsAsia spoke to said the ban would not have too great an impact on business, but they questioned its effectiveness in getting people to quit.

    “Should a young person spot these cigarette cabinets, they would still be able to ask for and buy them. It doesn’t matter how you cover it,” said Mr Leong Kuo Tong, owner of Leong Brothers Departmental Store.

    “Some customers will still insist on buying cigarettes. Even if they are hidden, they will ask us (for them),” said Mr Rajamohamed Jawahar Hussain, co-owner of Fairprice General Store.

    MOH said it would continue to work with retailers to fine-tune the specific details of the measures.

  • Waterway Point Mall Singapore 90% leased

    Waterway Point Mall Singapore 90% leased

    The new Waterway Point Mall in Singapore is already 90 per cent leased, a whole six months ahead of its scheduled opening date.

    Developer Frasers Centrepoint Malls says the new centre in Punggol won’t be open for business for about six months, but the vast majority of space is now leased.

    Waterway Point is part of Watertown, an integrated waterfront residential and retail development by Frasers Centrepoint, Far East Organization and Sekisui House.

    A 24 hour FairPrice Finest supermarket, a 1500 seat Shaw Theatres multiplex cinema and a large Times Bookstore have been named as anchor tenants.

    The new 370,824 sqft mall will feature four levels of indoor retail space, alfresco dining and leisure space.

    The Times Bookstore will be the chain’s largest in Singapore with a 7335 sqft footprint.

    “Once underserved, Punggol today is a picture of rapid development,” said Christopher Tang, CEO for commercial and Greater China with Frasers Centrepoint.

    “The positive take-up underscores a healthy demand for retail space in this developing area.”

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  • Cognizant Partners with supermarket retailer NTUC FairPrice Singapore

    Cognizant Partners with supermarket retailer NTUC FairPrice Singapore

    Cognizant  has partnered NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice), a major supermarket retailer in Singapore, to digitally transform its business and provide customers with a seamless multi-channel shopping experience.

    By bringing together its consulting, industry and technology expertise, Cognizant reengineered FairPrice’s business processes, and implemented a digital e-commerce platform for the multi-format retailer to provide integrated, consistent and personalised customer service across multiple touch points, enhancing customer satisfaction, loyalty and brand perception.

    The digital transformation programme has also enabled FairPrice to improve real-time product and inventory visibility, make retail management more efficient, and gain a better understanding of customer preferences and purchase history. As a result of cross-channel integration, FairPrice has been able to roll out innovative services for shoppers, including its “Click&Collect” online delivery service the option to buy online and pick up the purchase from a store, a first in Singapore.

    With superior insights into customer and staff behaviour, FairPrice can further strengthen its supply chain, site and store operations, marketing, and merchandising to drive growth and differentiation. Cognizant is also creating a mobile channel for FairPrice to engage better with its existing customers and attract new ones.

    “Mobile and online retail is crucial to addressing heightened expectations of today’s digitally-enabled shoppers, and digital technology has enormous potential to enhance their shopping experience,” said Seah Kian Peng, CEO, NTUC FairPrice. “This digital transformation programme underscores our commitment to our customers and represents a strategic advantage in that we can now leverage inventory across multiple locations and streamline fulfilment processes to not just delight our customers, but also increase sales and reduce operational costs. Cognizant’s experience and capabilities have complemented our digital commerce vision and helped to reinforce our reputation as a retailer with a heart.”

    “A unified multi-channel customer experience is increasingly a brand differentiator in the world of retail,” said Jayajyoti Sengupta, Vice President and Head of APAC, Cognizant. “This digital initiative is a trend-setter in the region for customer-focused transformation. A single view of the customer, sales and inventory will enable FairPrice to rise to the needs of the next generation of shoppers and define innovative models. We are pleased to have helped FairPrice execute on its digital commerce strategy and utilise multi-channel retailing to drive customer engagement, competitive advantage, market leadership, and growth.”

  • NTUC FairPrice saves 9 million bags

    NTUC FairPrice saves 9 million bags

    Singapore supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice says customers saved more than 9 million plastic bags last year as the company pursued its green strategy.

    FairPrice said it gave out more than S$450,000 in rebates under its FairPrice Green Rewards Scheme last year.

    Koh Kok Sin, chairperson of the FairPrice green committee, said securing a sustainable future for Earth is the responsibility of everyone in this generation.

    “We continue to upgrade and make our stores as eco-friendly as possible, find ways to raise environmental consciousness among shoppers, and encourage them to Think Green and Shop Green. We are encouraged that our customers recognise the call to care for the Earth, and share our commitment to save plastic bags and take on other sustainable initiatives. We will continue to work together with our stakeholders to build a green and eco-friendly Singapore.”

    FairPrice first launched the FairPrice Green Rewards Scheme in 2007 to urge shoppers to use fewer plastic bags. Since then, FairPrice has given out more than $2.3 million in rebates which has resulted in an estimated 46.5 million plastic bags saved. In the same period, FairPrice has seen an increase in plastic bags saved at its stores by about 10 per cent year-on-year; and recorded the highest number of plastic bags saved last year.

    FairPrice also supported Earth Hour on March 28 by switching off all non-essential lights at its stores, offices and warehouses, in addition to donating $12,500 to WWF. This is the seventh year that FairPrice has supported WWF’s global Earth Hour initiative.

    To conserve energy and to reduce its carbon footprint, FairPrice continues to install eco-friendly features in its stores, as well as switching to energy-saving equipment and lighting in the existing stores.  Currently, 60 stores have already been installed with these green features. Several FairPrice stores have been awarded with BCA Green Mark awards, including FairPrice Finest@ZhongShan Park and FairPrice Xtra@Kallang Wave Mall that have both been awarded with the BCA Green Mark (Platinum) awards. FairPrice’s headquarters located in Benoi, FairPrice Hub, also received the BCA Green Mark (Platinum) award for incorporating extensive green architecture features which promote sustainability and conservation of resources.

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